Sales representative Ciara O'Connell (33) was dancing backwards with a male colleague – in a style from the film 'Dirty Dancing' – when she fractured her arm at Copper Face Jacks, Harcourt Street, Dublin, the court heard.

Yesterday, Ms O'Connell's dancing partner, Noel Humphries, accepted under cross-examination by Colm Condon, for the club, that he and Ms O'Connell were dancing close together because when they fell he landed on top of her.

COMPLAINT

At the time, he felt an unusual sensation under his feet, as if he had slipped. When he got up, his hand was wet. He did not know, however, if this was from sweating.

He did not make any complaint to the nightclub and his concern after the fall was for Ms O'Connell.

He said nobody had come to him to say he had been dancing recklessly.

Ms O'Connell, of Glenview Park, Tallaght, Dublin, who had to have two operations following the accident, yesterday showed Mr Justice Sean Ryan the scarring on her arm.

She has sued Breanagh Catering Ltd, trading as Copper Face Jacks, over the incident on August 4, 2006.

She claimed Mr Humphries slipped on the floor, which she has alleged was wet, and that he fell on to her, causing her to fall.

The club says the floor was dry and alleges that Ms O'Connell was engaged in dangerous and reckless dancing with Mr Humphries.

Having viewed a CCTV recording, the nightclub's manager Aiden McCormack agreed with defence counsel that there was nothing about the dancing that gave him cause for concern.

Mr McCormack told the court the club does not generally allow drinking on the dance floor and it does not encourage people to walk through the dance floor with drink.